Anti-Piracy Thread (POLL)

[evertonfan]

I don't know, but anyone who neg reps a legend like Gas has no life at all. Gas is the man.

 

[Almost_Austwick]

As has been mentioned the reason that piracy exists (especially in poorer countries) is that in many cases the software is just way over priced.

If companies were to have sensible pricing polices then I'm sure there would be a drop in the amount of software downloaded, as (from my experience) most people are happy to pay for a product as long as they feel it's fairly priced.

Photoshop is a classic example, the normal person in the street is never going to pay upwards of £500 for that program so they either look for it illegally or just forgot about it altogether. On the other hand if Adobe were to offer a cut down version with just the basic tools for say £39.99 then I'm sure a lot of people would buy it. If people want more then give them the choice of buying extras in bundles and not just the full package.

Charge corporations a higher rate, they only pass the cost back onto the consumer anyway.

However, the way things are going I'm sure we'll see even higher quality free download software in the near future - the gimp and open office are already decent alternatives to Photoshop and Microsoft Office.

 

[MattW]

Photoshop is a classic example, the normal person in the street is never going to pay upwards of ?500 for that program so they either look for it illegally or just forgot about it altogether. On the other hand if Adobe were to offer a cut down version with just the basic tools for say ?39.99 then I'm sure a lot of people would buy it. If people want more then give them the choice of buying extras in bundles and not just the full package.

The problem with that is there is already Photoshop Elements, which is US$99 (and you can get it with Premiere for another $50) and I haven't used it (or Photoshop itself for that matter) but I would imagine it is missing much of the stuff various graphics makers here would use, but by the same token the full Photoshop has much stuff that will never be used by them. There won't be a magical Photoshop PCGraphicsThreadEdition that will meet the exact requirements at ?39.99, so people end up needing Photoshop, and then the cost issue is back on the table and people resort to piracy.

 

[Almost_Austwick]

That's why they need to allow the opportunity for people to buy upgrade bundles so that they can pick the tools they need and leave the rest out. I use photoshop most days for various graphic needs (from drawing work to editing photos) and I know that I could strip most of the tools out without missing anything. If had the option to buy add-ons when I need them then I could have gone for Elements and added to it as and when.

Giving the user the flexibility they require will help matters to some extent.

Granted there is also the argument that the companies would lose money but I'm sure that if they were to handle things correctly they would pick up sales from the people who only download due to necessity but in an ideal world would rather pay for it.

To be honest I totally forgot about Elements but then I'm only using photoshop as an example as it seems relevant to the PC forums.

This method is limited when it comes to gaming once again a fair pricing policy would help no end.

 

[Abhas]

The best example to reduce piracy was done by peutronics, for their software Tally in the Indian Market. Tally is basically an accounting package, and is the most widely used software by most of the companies. Initially, they were selling at an utterly exorbitant rate, forcing most of the users to install a pirated version, which served their purpose for "much" less. Now, with the declining sales, they have reduced their price to such an extent, that most companies prefer to buy the original. It is costing around $200 (USD) right now, but earlier, it was almost 3-4 times of this amount. Companies easily pay this amount, as it is only a one time investment for them.
Tally Sales have risen dramatically in the recent past, and their strategy to reduce prices has surely worked.

 

[Deleted member 9102]

Edit: Chris Gayle

 

[Kev]

I dont think you see as much piracy as you used to, but imagine my surprise when I saw this anchored off the coast last weekend

(Sorry, yes I know its a terrible and old joke, but thats what I do)

 

[evertonfan]

When I saw 'Last Post by Kev' I was actually expecting a picture of Jack Sparrow. Close enough.

 

[Kev]

I actually did knock up a Jack Sparrow BLIC cover ages ago, but its in the staff forum

 

[evertonfan]

Awww shucks. Now only the lesser hands have access to it.

So Kev, your views on piracy?

 

[AbBh]

In my opinion, companies should price their software depending upon the economy of the country it's being sold in. Windows Vista costs approximately Rs 10000 for the premium edition in India. Most people in India can't afford it, even the people who can afford to buy it prefer a pirated copy because its cheap. The developers are trying to find better ways to protect their software. With software based protection, no matter how much they protect their software, the pirates will find a way past it. But if they price their software reasonably people wouldn't work hard to find ways to pirate it.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Meh just noticed this thread.
As it has been said many times before, piracy in India is 99% due to formidable rates. Most of us are wanting to buy original software but just cant help it. Take MS for e.g, now, if i am correct about 80% of the world uses pirated windows ( excluding those who use linux and open source, and i am only talking about windows users ), and seeing the price of the original ones i am afraid i think they do the right thing.

Even with this rate MS is the largest company ( or atleast billy remained richest for quite a long time)

Now if only they were to reduce the prices to something reasonable, i am pretty sure most of us wiull take original software. But at this level when our pc's cost arouned Rs. 20000, spending 3000 - 5000 Rs on windows sounds rubbish. Not to mention the MS Office.

I think that Norton too, like tally, has done a splendid job with its pricing. MOre and more people are buying original norton these days.

In regards to gaming, prices are obsolete. Too high and definitely not affordable.

Gaming is meant for relaxation and fun, and it shouldnt be making our pockets drain out too much. You know, if i was to buy original games everytime, i would quit gaming. It would become hard to buy even one game.

I have actually once written an article about this for a newspaper and it was published too. I had mentioned how companies can help reduce piracy, for their own good.
But apparently it seems these types of articles fall on deaf ears.

 

[MattW]

Take MS for e.g, now, if i am correct about 80% of the world uses pirated windows

I would highly doubt that figure, the large majority of people get a legal copy of Windows with a prebuilt PC, in developing nations it might be closer to that, but world wide it would more more likely to be the 20% that are illegal.


Edit: And after some checking: http://www.betanews.com/article/22_of_Windows_Installs_NonGenuine/1169497163

 

[sohum]

I think Windows gets away with OEM licensing for computer manufacturers. If software creators were able to pass on the burden of pricing similarly to manufacturers, consumers wouldn't have to bite the bullet knowingly. However, to have that one would have to offer a precise level of detailing when purchasing a new pre-built PC.

 

[omkarjere]

My country has much of piracy because people here don't have much purchasing power and our currency (Rupee) is one the lowest powered. One USD means around 50 Indian RS. In my country most people live in middle class standard so they don't afford to buy Original softwares. So they go to piracy.